International Distillers and SLHGA unite to launch 30th National Bartenders Competition 2025

Marking a major milestone in Sri Lanka’s hospitality landscape, the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association (SLHGA), in partnership with International Distillers Ltd., (IDL), presents the 30th National Bartenders Competition a celebration of three dynamic decades of bartending excellence, innovation, and talent.

This landmark event coincides with the growth of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and a revival in the local bartending scene highlighting the growing demand for young, creative talent to enhance cocktails and elevate the guest experience in modern hospitality. Now in its third consecutive year of support from IDL, Sri Lanka’s market leader in Locally Manufactured Foreign Liquor (LMFL), this edition promises to raise the bar higher than ever, revitalising a platform that champions professional growth, creativity, and world-class mixology.

Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association President Patrick Pereira stated: “We are proud to partner with International Distillers Ltd., and the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management for the 30th edition of the National Bartenders Competition. This initiative not only celebrates Sri Lanka’s bartending talent but also reflects our commitment to raising industry standards in mixology and beverage service.

By nurturing aspiring professionals through training and competition, we help shape a new generation of talent that strengthens Sri Lanka’s reputation as a world-class hospitality destination. We thank our partners and participants for their passion and dedication, and we look forward to their continued success.”

International Distillers Ltd., Director/CEO Dr. Kemal De Soysa remarked, “International Distillers Ltd., is delighted to be partnering once again with the SLHGA and SLITHM to host the 30th National Bartenders Competition. We at IDL are committed to helping uplift the bartending and mixology arts in Sri Lanka. We are passionate about using local ingredients, local talent, and local inspiration to make a product of an international standard.

At the same time, we aim to help the hospitality industry understand that world-beating cocktails can be made with local spirits and ingredients, and create a pathway for the development of bartending in Sri Lanka, developing the skills and careers of bartenders and mixologists, as well as enhancing the experience for their patrons. I thank the organisers and wish the participants all the best for NBC 2025.”

For 30 years, the National Bartenders Seminar and Competition has been a key force in shaping Sri Lanka’s hospitality landscape. Organised by SLHGA in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM), the event has consistently delivered advanced training in bartending techniques, helping young professionals hone their skills through workshops, seminars, and live competitions across the island.

National Bartenders Competition Chairman Dickson Kumara highlighted: “With Sri Lanka’s tourism on the rise, skilled bartenders play a vital role in delivering world-class hospitality. The National Bartenders Competition 2025 continues to elevate industry standards by fostering creativity, precision, and professionalism. This year, we focus on developing bartenders as not just mixologists, but ambassadors of Sri Lanka’s vibrant hospitality scene.”

The National Bartenders Competition 2025 is set to be the largest and most comprehensive event of its kind in Sri Lanka, reinforcing the island’s growing reputation as a destination for world-class hospitality and beverage service. With IDL’s continued support and a legacy of excellence behind it, the 2025 edition promises to inspire, elevate, and set a new benchmark for the future of Sri Lanka’s beverage and hospitality industry.